2022 Top  New Courses Played 

Words by Mr. Tee on December 30, 2022

We love to play mini golf and try to do it as often as possible. I continue to be amazed at the number of courses we visit for the first time each year. These are all in addition to the many courses we’ve played an untold number of rounds at as practice for all of the tournaments we competed in throughout 2022.

Robin and I played courses across the country (and the world!) including visits to Arizona, Texas, Michigan, Wisconsin, Illinois, Connecticut, California, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, South Carolina and Iceland. And naturally, we also took road trips to play courses across our home state of Minnesota.

Below and in no particular order are our favorite courses that we played for the first time in 2022. We enjoyed so many courses that we added in a few that we think you should take a couple of putts at as well. We haven’t gotten to posting reviews of many of our top courses yet, so stay tuned for an endless amount of new reviews in 2023 and beyond.

The Red Putter – Ephraim, Wisconsin – Ever since we saw Amanda Kulkowski’s mini golf documentary, Through the Windmill, The Red Putter had been at the top of our list to play. Tucked away near the top of Door County, Wisconsin is a special 18-hole course. This classic Americana coures has been a destination to play for families and for those who compete in their annual August Pro Tournament. Mr. Tee went to compete this year and plans on making it an annual trip. A joy to play and visit.

Arts + Rec – Minneapolis, Minnesota – When Chris Pennington (formerly of Can Can Wonderland fame) told us he was working on a new course, we were eager to see what he cooked up next. We knew that he learned a lot from the build-out of Can Can and expected big ideas to be on the greens. When we got to play the completed course in November, we were thrilled to see so many massive and one-of-a-kind holes. Creative down to the club house which is a functioning record store. Be still my heart!

Matterhorn Mini Golf – Canton, Connecticut  – Our friends from The Putting Penguin, coupled with the aforementioned Through the Windmill documentary, had built up a ton of anticipation for an eventual visit to this Switzerland-themed mini golf course. The reality of the course and the entire facility was even better in person. Given this course is an American Mini Golf Alliance (AMA) major, we expect to visit and play it many more times in the future.

Minigarðurinn – Reykjavík, Iceland – As far as I know, this may be the first-ever indoor course in Iceland and overall, it is the best course I’ve played or seen in the country. A garden party styled course with classic windmills and loops and a few nods to Icelandic culture on and off the course. A strong mix of challenging shoot-through elements for high-probability hole-in-ones and skill shots that require a deft touch. The amenities and vibes of this place are top-notch. Ég elska þennan stað (I love this place)

Cranbrook on the Green – Bloomfield Hills, Michigan – Ok, yes, we designed this course for the Cranbrook Art Museum, but that doesn’t mean we’re not incredibly proud of how it turned out. We know the museum will be adding new holes in 2023 and are excited to get back for another visit to enjoy this fun course on a beautiful museum campus.

Mountain View Drive-In – Nazareth, Pennsylvania – Back in 2019, we were invited by the owners to check out a new Drive-In/course in the Lehigh Valley near where The Pink Putter’s father lives. Between seeing parts of the course in progress and the already-finished ice cream parlor, we had high hopes. A visit back this past year proved our intuitions to be right. This charming course has a clever design, classic American kitsch, and an overall fun environment to play.

Pee Wee Golf – Guerneville, California – A piece of mini golf history with deep connections to the family who built one of our favorite Goofy Golf courses in the country. The above photo represents one of the odder and darker hole themes on this nearly 75-year-old course. The mix of creepy, cute, and colorful characters in this course makes it a must-play.

Swingers Crazy Golf – New York City, New York – The Pink Putter was the first of us to visit one of the courses part of this UK-based mini golf chain. Three stylish and classy 9-hole courses with an underground speakeasy vibe makes Swingers a fun 21+ date destination.

Golf N Stuff – Tucson, Arizona – We’ve played numerous Golf N Stuff locations in southern California and were equally pleased by our experience at the Arizona version of this West Coast styled mini golf facility. Two big 18-hole courses with massive castles, pagodas, and fun environments. While it maybe needs a little upkeep in places, overall, this course is a winner!

Farmington Mini Golf – Farmington, Connecticut – Much like the aforementioned Red Putter, this is classic mini golf Americana. For over 40 years, they’ve hosted fun competitive tournaments and untold numbers of guests. A fun putting challenge and one we’re hoping to play competitively in the future in an American Mini Golf Alliance (AMA) event.

We also recommend these courses for a good time if you come across them like we did in 2022